12 replies on “How to Write a Synopsis in Ten Steps”
I’m just glad it didn’t say “ten EASY steps”! 😀 Well, I guess if you already have figured out the structure of your novel and it fits those ten points nicely, then the writing-it-up part is relatively easy. But what if your novel doesn’t fit that ten-point structure? Uh-oh.
It IS. And I’m not sure I agree with this. But there might be a helpful tip for someone because writing synopses SUCKS. Btw some people are awesome at it.
Me and summaries aren’t good dance partners. My “elevator speech” makes you feel like you’re trapped in a submarine 20,000 feet under AND THERE IS NO WAY OUT EXCEPT SHARKS which seems like the better option….
It was an interesting article and I appreciated the use of a book I was so familiar with for the step by step process. However, at a convention earlier this year I went to a panel entitled why editors pass. One editor said she NEVER reads a synopsis unless she’s read the first ten to twenty pages and is fairly certain she wants more, then she might ask for a synopsis or she might just ask for the rest of the novel. ALL the other editors agreed with her. Just FYI.
Thank you for this. It was nice to read one agency’s site that said of the synopsis, “This will be the worst writing you ever do.” Ha. But what a relief. 🙂
12 replies on “How to Write a Synopsis in Ten Steps”
I’m just glad it didn’t say “ten EASY steps”! 😀 Well, I guess if you already have figured out the structure of your novel and it fits those ten points nicely, then the writing-it-up part is relatively easy. But what if your novel doesn’t fit that ten-point structure? Uh-oh.
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They aren’t easy, are they?
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I hate following directions….blah. Feels too confining.
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It IS. And I’m not sure I agree with this. But there might be a helpful tip for someone because writing synopses SUCKS. Btw some people are awesome at it.
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Me and summaries aren’t good dance partners. My “elevator speech” makes you feel like you’re trapped in a submarine 20,000 feet under AND THERE IS NO WAY OUT EXCEPT SHARKS which seems like the better option….
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Ha. Awesome.
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It was an interesting article and I appreciated the use of a book I was so familiar with for the step by step process. However, at a convention earlier this year I went to a panel entitled why editors pass. One editor said she NEVER reads a synopsis unless she’s read the first ten to twenty pages and is fairly certain she wants more, then she might ask for a synopsis or she might just ask for the rest of the novel. ALL the other editors agreed with her. Just FYI.
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Yep. Their job is to read and find stories by good authors, not to read synopses.
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Thank you for this. It was nice to read one agency’s site that said of the synopsis, “This will be the worst writing you ever do.” Ha. But what a relief. 🙂
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Yep. I agree.
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Thanks for sharing this. I hate writing synopses, but this had some good clear points.
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Yes it did!
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